Common Questions

How will counseling help my loved one?

By participating in therapy, individuals are able to learn new skills and set goals to improve: social and emotional communication, parent-child relationships and social functioning. By establishing such goals, existing comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety can be alleviated. Individuals can gain a better understanding in how to resolve issues with better problem-solving and communication skills. By seeking a counseling professional specializing in certain conditions your loved one has a greater chance to live a fuller more productive life.

What can I expect from therapy?

Because each person is unique, therapeutic goals and outcomes will be different depending on the individual. In general, the therapuetic process takes time. We will typically see our clients on a weekly basis for approximately 3-6 months. After your initial goal has been met, we work together to best determine if you are ready to decrease your visits to biweekly then untimately to a monthly schedule. Once we have helped you achieve your unique goals, we end our services.

You can expect to discuss previous histories, as well as the current challenges and areas of concern, during your intial visit. Depending on an individual's needs, therapy can be either short-term or longer-term. Consistency of treatment is important in order to establish a therapeutic rapport, trust and goal setting treatments. When available you may also wish to participate in group counseling.

What if I have to reschedule or cancel an appointment?You may cancel or reschedule your appointment, however, it is highly recommended you call us within 24 hours to avoid same day cancellation charges or missed fees.

What about medication versus therapy?

Medication alone is usually not sufficient. In some cases medication may not be necessary. When medication is warranted, most physicians and counseling professionals recommend a combination of medication management and counseling for the best results. Long-term solution to mental and emotional problems cannot be solved solely by medication. How do I know what we talk about will be private?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.

* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.

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